What are the best rooms for hardwood? Is there anywhere it shouldn’t be installed? Hardwood flooring is classic, beautiful, and allergy-friendly, but it should not be ubiquitous! As you plan to upgrade your floors, here’s where hardwood flooring belongs, where it should be banned and why each is true.
The Best Rooms for Hardwood Flooring
You’ll love the rich beauty of wood floors in these rooms, and you can install them without performance worries as long as you take proper care of your floors.
Living room: Hardwood communicates the lifestyle homeowners enjoy sharing when hosting gatherings of family and friends. It stands up well to traffic, even if you forego a no-shoes policy when entertaining. The occasional oopsie spill won’t pose a threat when cleaned up promptly.
Dining room: Whether your dining room is quite formal or has a casual vibe, there’s a hardwood flooring style that will enhance your room’s design maintaining durability over time. Adding soft pads to your chair and table feet reduces noise while protecting the hardwood finish.
Den: Hardwood floors accented with a large, comfy rug create a calm and cozy setting for unwinding with a book, casual conversation or a favorite show. It is safe to set your bookshelf on top of hardwood floors, and, as long as you don’t spill your wine on the floor, it will likely remain stain-free.
Home office: New Worker Magazine recently discussed the “increase in productivity attributed to hardwood floors,” and quoted TV producer Paula Rizzo saying, “Hardwood flooring generates positive emotions that help boost productivity.” So, you never know!
Master suite: Resisting the temptation to refer to our comments on the home office, we’ll say the obvious, that hardwood is rich, appealing and romantic. Throw in a toe-snuggling rug, love seat, and Barry White music, and a bodacious boudoir takes shape.
The Worst Rooms for Hardwood Flooring
Because of hardwood’s superior qualities, some have been enticed to install it everywhere… and have sorely regretted their rash choice! That is to say that you can install hardwood flooring in these rooms, but we would never recommend it.
Bathroom: Water is your floor’s nemesis. The results of letting these two face-off in the same room will not be pretty; neither will the bill to repair or replace. If you throw caution to the wind and choose hardwood for the bathroom, plan to repair and replace your floors often.
Laundry room: If you never throw wet towels on the floor, never hang clothes to dry, never spill liquid detergent or cleaning fluids, can promise your clothes washer will never leak… oh, and the important one: you love to entertain in the laundry room, go with laminate or tile in this room. Please!
Foyer: “Mom and Dad, I want you to meet Tyler. He’s a cook at Taco Clown.” Hello hugs and goodbye kisses are exchanged here; The foyer or entryway is highly regarded space. But, NOTHING good happens to hardwood here: gritty sand is tracked in, moisture from wet shoes seeps into cracks…
What About the Hardwood Flooring in the Kitchen?
Kitchen: Homeowners who love hardwood flooring, especially those with open floorplans. Everyone wants to know if hardwood is OK for the kitchen.
We say, “Go for it… with a couple of caveats.”
Consider engineered hardwood because its plywood base layers handle moisture better than solid hardwood
Clean up spills promptly, like an NFL lineman diving on a fumble
Seal your floors with the regularity recommended by the manufacturer or installer
Never use a steam mop on hardwood (wherever it is installed)
Final Thoughts
Hardwood has a place in every fine home, but just not everywhere for everyone. Practicing these tips for the right and woring rooms for hardwood flooring should produce a fulfilling long-term relationship with nature’s most beautiful floors. Now, learn how to choose the best hardwood flooring for any home.
Wood floors can add tremendous value to a home in addition to being a more durable, healthier when it comes to allergens, and elegant-appearing option. Even so, these floors come with a major drawback: noise. Sound waves bounce easily around a room installed with wood flooring. However, sound reduction can be implemented in several ways — before and after your wood floors are installed.
Pre-Installation Sound-Reduction Tips
Think about isolating the noise before it even has a chance to reflect throughout the room. This is best done during construction. One way to do this is by installing an acoustical soundboard beneath the subfloor. This can easily insulate the sound vibrations. Noise can then be blocked by ensuring the soundboards are cut to fit the outline of the room, yet be sure to leave gaps (e.g. 1/8-inch) around the edges. Then, before nailing the boards in, seal these gaps using sealant or silicone to stop the noise from spreading.
Underlayments such as mats can provide additional aid when trying to isolate sound. These underlayments can be made from the likes of rubber, vinyl, or even lightweight closed-cell foam. Remember: thicker floor coverings equal greater soundproof. In other words, cushioned vinyl will help isolate noise greater than regular vinyl.
A simple way to soundproof would be to combine mats and chipboard sheets with an acoustic underlayment. Many manufacturers offer these soundboards and mats, so be sure to ask what is available before installing any wood floors.
Post-Installation Sound Reduction Tips
If a home is already built and ready to go, think about decorating options. Specific furniture can often reduce the noise level you would hear from wood floors. Specifically, upholstered pieces help. Sofas and sectionals that are made using soft fabric are ideal choices for absorbing noises, especially when compared to leather furniture that does not offer much sound prevention.
When it comes to tables and chairs found in a dining room, think about tablecloths, slipcovers, and cushions. These materials easily soften the vibration of sounds.
While decorating a home to reduce sound, be sure to look at the walls, floors, and windows. A good area rug can readily absorb any sound, as does a fabric wall hanging. Concerning the windows, draperies will be able to capture any sounds that may vibrate off the floor and around the room. For greater absorption, use thicker material like suede rather than cotton or other lightweight fabrics.
Another area to look at would be the wood itself once you begin hearing squeaks. Over time, floorboards may start rubbing against each other. This generally means that there may be gaps between the finished flooring and the subfloor, or gaps between the subfloors and joist, all of which cause a squeaking sound when someone walks over it. The best way to handle this is to discover exactly where the squeaks are coming from.
If possible, head to the basement and have someone else walk along the floor above you. Once you hear a squeak, determine exactly what is causing it. A gap between the finished floor and subfloor has to be fixed from the finished side. Drill a 3 ½-inch drywall screw through the subfloor and into the joist. Squeaks that occur because a gap between the subfloor and joist can be fixed from below. Use a 3 ½-inch to 4-inch drywall screw, and angle it into the area where the joist and subfloor meet to pull the two together.
We hope some of these tips will help in and around the home to make it more comfortable for you and your family.
If you’ve ever had an upholstered sofa or a decorative rug in front of a window and noticed it fading more and more each year, you know what direct sunlight can do to your furniture and belongings. You might not realize that it can actually even change the color of your wood floors and bleach your artwork and family portraits. Sun damage isn’t only unsightly, though. It is also costly and will likely force you to replace your rugs and other home furnishings more often.
While you might not be able to slather a layer of sunscreen on your sofa, there are a number of preventive measures you can take to ward off sun damage. Use these tips to protect your belongings and save yourself a little money while you’re at it.
What Causes the Damage?
Like with sun damage to your skin, the majority of damage to your floors and furniture is caused by ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. In fact, according to the National Fenestration Rating Council, a nonprofit that assesses windows to determine their energy efficiency, roughly 40 to 60 percent of damage is caused by UV radiation, which results in bleaching and corrosion in furniture. The other causes include heat, humidity, and artificial light.
What is the Best Form of Protection?
Obviously, some measures of protection are relatively common sense, such as keeping your curtains closed and blinds drawn. However, if you’re like most of us and don’t want to feel like you’re living in a dungeon, you may want to consider other options.
Upgrade Your Windows
One of your first lines of defense is your windows themselves. If you are in the process of building a new home or upgrading your windows in your existing home, a great option for your windows is laminated or low-e coated glass. Some manufacturers claim their products made with this type of glass can filter as much as 99 percent of harmful UV radiation. Keep in mind, though, that this option may cost more than traditional windows.
Use Window Film
Window film is another option to consider if you’re not in the market for replacing all of your windows. Not only does this film filter UV light, but it also makes windows resistant to breaking and facilitates less heat loss. If your main concern is sun damage, then focus on UV protection when you are selecting films. You can purchase window film from a local home improvement center and install it yourself, or have a professional complete the install.
Leverage Window Coverings
It’s obviously nice to let a little sun and air in your home on occasion. But, there’s a good reason to keep them covered, especially when you’re not home. Curtains and blinds not only provide privacy, they also protect your furniture and other interior assets from unsightly Sun damage. So, keep window coverings on at all times — open them up when you want to experience the sunlight and close them up when you’re not home and at night, when sleeping.
Can Specific Items Be Protected?
If you’re concerned about a certain item in particular, such as a valuable painting from your great aunt, there are options for protecting precious possessions without installing new windows or special film.
Protect Your Floors
Sun exposure lightens certain types of wood and darkens other. Be sure to move furniture and rugs regularly to create more even sun exposure throughout each room. Likewise, consider applying a sun-resistant sealant on your wood floors. Depending on the type of floors you have and the look you’d like to achieve, you can use varnish, lacquer, polyurethane, or shellac. There are also several wax and oil finishes that will protect your wood floors.
Preserve Your Art
Expensive artwork is another grave concern for collectors. Ultimately, you might consider having a copy made of your favorite pieces and hang the copy instead of the original. However, if you’re set on having your collections hung in rooms with windows, always hang artwork out of direct sunlight and behind UV-blocking glass, such as acrylic.
Carpet and Rug Maintenance
Rugs and carpets are also highly susceptible to sun damage. You may want to consider applying a spray-on protector, though their efficacy has come under debate in recent years. Likewise, rotating your rugs and moving furniture around periodically can help equalize fading.
Final Thoughts
While you may not be able to completely eliminate sun damage to your floors and furniture, you can prevent and reduce a great deal of it. Follow these tips to minimize damage and keep your floors and furniture as pristine as possible for as long as you can.
Window treatments provide homeowners with a sense of privacy, while also adding to the decor of the room. Some window treatments look great with hardwood floors, while others clash in unfavorable ways. The type of custom window treatment you choose for your historic home will have a huge impact on the style and overall feel of the space, so you should consider your options thoroughly before committing to something that you are less than crazy about. If you’re in need of some inspiration, check out these 3 ultra-cool window treatment ideas that could breathe life and character into your historic house!
Install or Update Interior Shutters
We’re all familiar with shutters on the outside of the home, but adding these features to the inside of your home is a sure-fire way to add dramatic flair to any space! They will also help protect against pesky winter drafts. Reminiscent of New England’s colonial era-homes, windows with a completed interior shutter treatment are far too elegant to hide behind curtains. Instead, they are grandiose enough to stand alone. If your historic home is like many, its windows may already be covered with interior shutters. In that case, consider updating their look by replacing them with modern plantation shutters, which are available in many beautiful stains and paint shades that would work well with any period look.
Shades
If your heart is set on keeping the row of eye-level windows in the kitchen of your historic home that allows you to admire the views of the back yard, but are concerned about privacy issues or the glaring sun, consider installing simple roller or pleated shades. The easy-to-use window treatment may seem uninspiring at first thought, but you don’t want to draw the attention away from the intricate details of your historic home. And since the shades can be adjusted to block or allow the sun at different times of the day, they make for a convenient and attractive option. Also, maintenance will be a breeze if you opt for shades made of 100% polyester or some other material that is both nonabsorbent and easy–to-clean. This holds true especially if you have hired a restoration company for home clean up for mold or flooding.
Venetian or Georgian Blinds
Before you curl your nose, it’s worth noting that Venetian blinds have a colorful history when it comes to interior decoration. If you have purchased a historic home you probably appreciate history, so don’t count this option out too quickly.
If you want to stay true to the style of your old home, what says “historic” more clearly than Venetian Blinds? Generally, they are made of 2″ slats, and Georgian blinds have slats ranging in size from 1″ to 3″ wide and were held together by a long, flat piece of cloth. They could be stained any color to match the look of your home, though dark cherry and walnut were the most popular during the Georgian Era. For the finishing touch, add a cornice to create an instantly more dramatic look.
This guest post is courtesy of Proctor Drapery and Blinds of St. Louis, a veteran window treatment company of 35 years with a mobile showroom!
Wooden flooring, cabinetry, architectural elements and furniture offer a beautiful look for your home, but not all types of wood are sustainably harvested or easily replenished. By learning more about high-quality choices, selecting wood that is sustainable allows you to create the decor you desire without contributing to an adverse effect on the environment.
Sustainable Hardwoods
Concerns about wood harvesting include deforestation, illegal logging and loss of slow-growing hardwood species that are difficult to replace. Sustainable forest management includes an approach that addresses the big-picture needs of the forests and surrounding ecosystem. As a resource that affects air quality, water purity and the presence of wildlife, forests are much more than trees.
Damage to Ecosystems
Exotic woods such as teak and mahogany are typically not harvested from sustainable sources. In addition to contributing to deforestation of tropical rainforests, the impact can extend to endangered wildlife, human populations and many other components in large ecosystems across the world. Money often is the motivation for the continued harvesting of wood utilizing unsustainable methods.
Informed Choices
Choosing sustainable wood is as simple as understanding the type of wood and geographical locations that practice sustainable harvesting methods. Hardwoods tend to grow more slowly than softwoods, so sustainable wood is especially important when selecting hardwoods. Softwoods such as pine and fir grow very quickly; these types of wood are often used for lumber products due to their abundance and renewal rate.
Sustainable Certification
The European Union has implemented sustainable harvesting regulations, but in all parts of the world, you should focus on selecting wood that is certified as sustainable. Organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council provide certification systems, so you can easily identify sustainable wood and feel good about your purchase.
The types of hardwood that are generally available as certified sustainable options include:
Oak: This popular hardwood with decorative grain is a durable choice for cabinetry, furniture and flooring. When selecting oak, look for FSC certification and sources that are reclaimed or recycled. Oak forests thrive and are grown sustainably throughout the United States and Canada.
Teak: FSC certification from Burma and Africa is possible with teak, and other types of exotic hardwoods such as favinha, guariuba and tatajuba woods are additional options. Slow-growing teak is difficult to grow sustainably, but because the wood is in high demand for outdoor furniture, it is often available on the black market.
Mahogany: The rich colors and unique grain of this unique wood make it a desirable choice for furniture. FSC-certified wood comes from South and Central America, Asia and Africa. Other types of wood, such as andiroba and jatoba, are additional options when a mahogany look is desired.
White Ash: This hardwood is desirable for baseball bats, hockey sticks and pool cues. Resistance to shock and the light, creamy color make it a popular choice for furniture, especially for curved forms. Ash is grown in FSC-certified forests across the eastern United States and Canada.
Black Cherry: With a red wood that has a similar look to mahogany, cherry is a popular choice for furniture, cabinets and doors in addition to guitars. Fine grain and wavy rings provide it with a unique texture and look. Cherry is grown throughout the central and eastern United States, and many FSC-certified forests are located in Pennsylvania.
Maple: Maple is available in both soft and hard types, and sugar maple is a coveted type of hardwood. This beautiful wood has many unique types of grain and a light color that is suitable for a wide variety of furniture, stair treads and flooring. Maple grows abundantly along the east coast of North America.
In recent years, modern technology has allowed for great advancements in the quality and appearance of laminate flooring. Though not as highly valued or durable as hardwood, high-quality laminate can sometimes serve as an inexpensive alternative and has recently been gaining popularity.
Many people who grew up or bought houses in the 1980s and 1990s remember the introduction of “Pergo” flooring to the market. It was a product created by a Swedish company called Perstorp, and, during the age of linoleum, it provided a higher class of synthetic flooring. This was the first laminate flooring to be used in homes in the U.S., and the name practically became synonymous with the product. Now, there are a variety of companies who manufacture laminate flooring, many of which also deal in hardwood. The synthesis of these two industries has yielded laminate flooring lines that much better replicate the look of hardwood and provide a much higher-quality look than early Pergo flooring.
What is laminate?
In a sentence, laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic product made to simulate wood or other materials by using a photographic image and, in some cases, top-layer texturing.
How it’s made
From the bottom up, laminate consists of 4 essential layers;
1 – Backing (bottom layer): Most quality laminates are made with a bottom layer that includes a moisture barrier. It joins with the water-resistant wear layer on top to create a relatively water-tight seal around the core material (though this does not make laminate flooring waterproof). It also provides additional stability for installation.
2 – Fiberboard Core: The bulk of a laminate floorboard is made up of a fiberboard core. Fiberboard is a common material usually made from wood chips or sawdust that is ground into a very fine powder then coated with resin and pressed flat. Some brands offer products made with antimicrobial resin. Additionally, some manufacturers make a point of using post-industrial wood waste (resulting, for example, from the cutting of boards for lumber) in their fiberboard, in an effort to reduce environmental impact.
3 – Photograph Layer or Decorative Layer: This is the layer that gives laminate its look. It is exactly what it sounds like – a reproduction of a photographic image of whatever material it is meant to mimic – hardwood, stone, tile, or sometimes even brick. Theoretically, any image could be used for this layer, but wood and stone are by far the most common. The image is actually printed on a paper-like material that is embedded in melamine resin to preserve the image. The higher quality the laminate, the more accurately the image will replicate the original material.
4 – Wear Layer (Top Layer): The final layer is the layer you walk on. It protects the photographic image from wear and tear and gives the floor its durability. It is most often created with an aluminum oxide chemical treatment and tends to hold up for 5-10 years under normal use.
These 4 layers are all fused together through a lamination process, giving us the term “laminate flooring”.
A laminate floor will also require an underlayment. The type of underlayment you use will depend on the type of subfloor you are working with (laminate can be laid over pretty much anything but carpet). Some underlayments provide an extra moisture barrier, some provide cushion and noise reduction, and others provide both. It is important when pricing laminate to take into account the cost of the underlayment, which can run anywhere from $.10 to more than $1 per sq. ft.
1.) Static Load – The ability to resist residual indentation from stationary objects (like furniture).
2.) Thickness Swell – The ability to resist (to a certain degree) swelling after being exposed to water.
3.) Light Resistance – The ability to retain its color when exposed to a light source similar to sunlight through window glass, the kind of light it would be exposed to when used inside a home or business (not outdoors).
4.) Cleanability and Stain Resistance – The ease of cleaning and the degree to which it resists stains from common household substances.
5.) Large Ball Resistance – The ability to resist fracture due to impact by a large, heavy object.
6.) Small Ball Resistance – The ability to resist fracture due to impact by an object with less surface area.
7.) Wear Resistance – The ability of the wear layer to resist abrasive wear through the décor (photographic) layer.
8.) Dimension Tolerance – The ability of laminate flooring to maintain its manufactured, free-standing thickness, length, width, straightness, and squareness.
9.) Castor Chair Resistance – Determines the change of appearance and stability of a laminate floor, including joints, under the movement of a caster chair.
10.) Surface Bond – The force required to split away from the surface of laminate flooring from the fiberboard core.
Formaldehyde – One of the components of melamine resin, used to bond the fiberboard core of most laminate flooring, is formaldehyde. In addition to the durability tests mentioned above, NALFA also requires manufacturers to comply with Federal and State regulations related to residual formaldehyde content in order to receive certification.
Now, there are a variety of companies who manufacture laminate flooring, many of which also deal in hardwood.
Some things to think about
If you’re considering using laminate in lieu of hardwood, there a few things you will want to bear in mind:
Though laminate may have a lower initial cost, most are guaranteed for no longer than 10 years. With normal wear and tear, it will need to be replaced several times throughout the lifetime of a home, in contrast with hardwood, which can last for generations.
Laminate is not hardwood and should not be billed as such in the sale of a home. While the quality of laminate has improved significantly in recent years, it does not add to the value of a home the way the hardwood flooring does.
Laminate cannot be refinished. Once you choose your laminate, that is what it will look like until you replace it. It cannot be sanded and refinished like hardwood can. For this reason, too, damaged boards will have to be replaced, as they cannot simply be sanded down and repaired.
Need help deciding between laminate and hardwood? Give our experts a call.
The spring housing market is the busiest time of the year for home sales. With a flood of houses predicted to enter the market, how do you make your home stand out and snag the best price? Let’s start at the bottom: should you choose wall-to-wall carpet or hardwood flooring?
Wall-to-Wall Carpeting Holds Allergens, Mold, and Mildew
Wall-to-Wall Carpeting Holds Allergens, Mold, and Mildew
Carpeting is a traditional decorating style, considered a soft choice underfoot for tumbling toddlers and children playing on the floor. But what lurks underneath the soft surface is not as pretty. It is important to remember that wall-to-wall carpeting is an entire carpeting system, including a backing, underlay padding, and various glues. Often, these synthetic materials and petroleum-based adhesives emit “volatile organic chemicals”, or VOCs, which are heavier than air. Therefore, according to John Bower, author of “The Healthy House Book” (2001), the VOCs settle onto the floor, and into the carpets, where children are playing. If there is anything troublesome in the carpet, they get the brunt of it.
Consistent, deep cleaning of wall-to-wall carpeting does not solve the problem. “Wall-to-wall carpets are a sink for dirt, dust mites, molds and pesticide residues,” says Philip Landrigan, M.D., director of the Center for Children’s Environmental Health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Deep shampooing the carpets only results in a room of wet carpet, which allows mildew and dust mites to proliferate until all of the carpet, backing, and underlay dry. Lingering odors and musty smells are a sign that mildew and mold have settled into the subflooring of the wall-to-wall carpeting system. “I much prefer smaller washable carpets of natural fiber,” added Dr. Landrigan. Area rugs can be easily picked up, and the surface underneath the carpets can be swept and kept clean of dust, germs, and irritants.
Ideally, carpeting should be replaced every 10 years
Carpeting Must Be Replaced Every Ten Years
Wall-to-wall carpeting is also an expensive, shorter-term approach. Even with proper care, manufacturers estimate that carpeting only lasts eight to ten years. After a decade, there will be noticeable signs of wear in high traffic areas, and the carpet fibers will start losing their texture and tuft. Signs of old carpet include color fading, wrinkling, matting, and uneven padding support.
Hardwood Floors Last A Lifetime
Hardwood floors are designed to last as long as the house. If maintained well, hardwood floors last 100 years, or more. If the floors are loved, they will reflect that love for a lifetime.
Maintenance starts with keeping the floors clean. Use a quality bristle broom to sweep the floor regularly and keep it clean of dirt and dust. A vacuum without a beater bar, like the MacDonald Hardwoods Mac Vac, can then get in between the boards and into hard-to-reach areas. For the occasional deep clean, use professional cleaning products recommended by your flooring retailer. MacDonald Hardwoods offers affordable Easy Hardwood Floor Cleaner. This step will help remove scuffs and heel marks and return floors to their longstanding luster.
Hardwood Floors Inspire Home Buyers To Offer Higher Prices
Hardwood floors are not only more attractive than musty old carpet, they are a sound investment to attract buyers. According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2015 Remodeling Impact Report, new or refinished hardwoods are one of the top features that buyers want in a home, and “very important” in their decision making on which houses merit an offer. In fact, 54% of surveyed buyers are willing to spend thousands more on a house with hardwood flooring, adding an average of $2,080 to their offering price. This data matches another study, conducted by the National Wood Flooring Association, where 82% of realtors said their experience confirms that houses with hardwood floors sell faster and for more money. Eighty-eight percent of realtors indicated that houses with hardwood floors sell for up to 10% more, while some realtors have found buyers offering even more than 10%.
Let’s turn those percentages into dollars. An average American home is valued at $242,300, according to the US Census data. If the home owner were to invest $10,000 in hardwood flooring, at an increased home sales value of 10%, that home could sell for $266,530, more than doubling the initial wood flooring investment. That is a significant increase in value.
Whether a homeowner is thinking of upgrading their floors for the upcoming spring market, or as a way f refreshing and decluttering their home for their own long-term enjoyment, the choice is clear: hardwood floors are a beautiful, durable, sound decision.
Well, our Denver Broncos made it to the Superbowl, and the whole city is getting ready for Sunday. If you’re having a Superbowl party and worried about how your hardwood floors will hold up to the extra traffic, inevitable spills, and jumping up and down of excited fans as out beloved team creams the Panthers, fear not. We’ve got some tips to help you prepare for the big day so that you can focus on cheering out team to victory.
Fan Slippers
This time of year, wet, muddy, snowy shoes are any floor’s worst enemy. Add to that heavy feet stamping and jumping for touchdowns and victory dances, and your best bet might be to ask guests to remove their shoes at the door. If this isn’t your usual custom or you worry that your guests will find it uncomfortable, make it part of the theme – the Broncos pro shop has a great selection of Broncos socks and slippers, or, if you’re looking for something at a lower price point, just pick up some blue and orange house slippers or fuzzy socks in various sizes. You can even let guests keep their fan slippers as a party favor.
For the die-hard fan, a Broncos field area rug might be just the accent for the football party room
Rugs
As part of party prep, consider laying an area rug under the couches and chairs in the TV room. A few runners in the areas where guests will be walking most (between the front door and the party zone, on the way to the bathroom) will also help to protect your floors and let you relax during the party. These can be easily rolled up and stowed away for future parties or you can leave them down to accent your home décor. If you don’t want to spring for a proper rug or don’t have a place to store it, consider putting down a rug pad and laying a Broncos blanket, tablecloth, or even bedding. This sort of thing will be widely available all around town this week and will generally be less costly than and area rug. Plus, you can just pick thm up after the party and throw them in the wash.
Towels
With the winter storm upon us, Superbowl Sunday is sure to be a messy one. You’ll do yourself and your guests a favor by having plenty of towels on hand for wiping up slush, along with napkin for cleaning up spills. Once again, Broncos-themed towels and napkins should be abundant in area stores right now.
Cleaning
Though you may feel inclined to polish your floors to get them in tip-to shape to showoff to guests, it is not really a good idea to wax your floor before a gathering. Wax and other polishes will make the floor slippery and increase the likelihood of drink and food spills, especially if you’re guests are sporting their Broncos slippers. A run with the dry mop should be sufficient to keep your floors free of debris so that they’ll look great and start out in the best condition for receiving guests. If it will make you feel better, you can run the dust mop over the floor again once most of the guests have arrived, just to keep things clean and clear away any finish-threatening debris.
Have fun!
When you prepare in advance, you can relax knowing that your hardwood floors are protected. Remember – prefinished hardwood is one of the most durable flooring materials around. As long as you don’t let moisture from spills or slush stand for long periods, your floors will d just fine. And after the party, call your friends at MacDonald Hardwoods and we’ll be happy to recommend cleaning products and supplies.
Winter is here and the holiday break is upon us. While there is plenty of fun to be had outside (check out our post on keeping the outside out), this is the time of year when family fun tends to move indoors. If you’re worried about how the added traffic might affect your floors, there are some things you can do to prepare your floors for heightened holiday activity. Plus, we’ve come up with a list of fun games that are perfect for a home with hardwood.
1. Build a fort
Who doesn’t remember the delights of building a fort out of sheets and living or dining room furniture and bedding? If you’ve taken our advice, your furniture should all have soft pads where its legs come into contact with the floor. As long as fort building doesn’t involve chair stacking or table climbing (falling furniture is dangerous for kids and floors), you should be good to go on this fun-for-all indoor activity. If the kids are on holiday, consider letting them build a fort somewhere where they can continue to add to it throughout the week. It can then also be a great staging ground to make other indoor activities – like puzzles and reading time – that much more fun.
2. Jigsaw puzzles
The flat, smooth surface of your hardwood floors is also a perfect place to lay out a jigsaw puzzle. There are some really cool ones out there these days that can keep the family entertained for days. Just section off an area of the floor (perhaps by building a fort…) where the jigsaw will reside and folks can come back to it whenever they want.
If you’re looking for something a little more creative, have the kids draw a picture of their own or color something out of a coloring book then paste their creation to some thin cardboard. You (or they, depending on their age) can then cut the picture into small (or small-ish) pieces and they can reconstruct their own picture or each other’s. Hint: Adult coloring books are becoming popular and easy to find and have some more complicated images that can sometimes be more fun to put back together.
3. Dance
Have you ever seen a proper dance floor that wasn’t made of hardwood? The smooth surface of a hardwood floor is perfect for swirling and twirling and generally getting down. So move the coffee table aside, turn on some tunes, and get the whole family out in their sock feet (slipping and sliding makes everything more fun – though bare feet might be better for the littlest ones) moving and grooving. It’s a great way to get some indoor exercise and use up some of that winter energy.
4. Musical cushions
Most people are pretty familiar with the game musical chairs. Well, a great way to play the game without having to worry about chairs sliding all over your floors, is to replace the chairs with large pillows or cushions. If you’ve got older kids who enjoy a bit of a rumble, you can just set the cushions in a pile in the middle of the floor so that players have to grab for them. The result? A tumble of cushioned fun. Bonus: This game can be surprisingly fun to play with adults as well.
5. Laundry basket ball
All you need to play this version of the high-energy game is…laundry. Just place a laundry basket at the end of a hall or against a far wall (you want to make sure it won’t slide around), ball up some socks or gather up some stuffed animals, and have at it. To make it more engaging, you can set out prizes at certain intervals away from the basket that the kids can collect when they make it in from that distance.
6. Balloon ping pong or tennis
This is a great and easy way to use things around the house to create a fun and energy-consuming game for the indoors. All you need is some paper plates, something longer than it is wide to serve as a grip (longer for tennis, shorter for ping pong), and a balloon of whatever size you wish. Attach the grip to the plate using heavy-duty tape or staples, inflate the balloon, and decide on a court. For extra fun, the kids can decorate the plates before attaching them to the grip. For the smaller kids, bigger balloons can be easier to hit, while older kids may prefer smaller balloons, or even use more than one at a time!
7. Plastic bottle bowling
Have some empty plastic water or soda bottle waiting for the recycling bin? Why not have some fun with them first? Just find 6-10 bottles of roughly the same size and set them up in a triangle pattern at the end of a hall or in an open space in one of the rooms. Then find a soft plush or rubber ball (a tennis ball works great for smaller water bottles, a soccer ball is good for 2-liter soda bottles) and knock ‘em down. One word of caution: It is sometime recommended that you put water, marbles, or something else heavy in the bottom of the bottles to stabilize them. This is not recommended for hardwood floors, since bottle often have seams in the bottom that can cause scratches if partially-filled bottles go sliding. On the flat surface of hardwood, though, the bottles should stand up find on their own. If you really want to make them harder to knock down, you can put a rubber mat underneath them and put a little something dry in the bottom like rice or, yes, marbles.
8. Domino run
This can be an especially fun one for homes with stairs and is a hardwood floor exclusive. Pick up a couple of sets of dominoes at the local dollar store and let the kids find out what it means for something to “fall like dominoes”. If they’ve never done it before, they can start out small, maybe with one pack, and experiment with what works and what doesn’t. It’s a great way for kids to practice problem-solving, observation, and special awareness. Just make sure they don’t let any stray dominoes get underfoot.
9. Grocery bag blocks
If you haven’t switched over to reusable grocery bags yet, or if you have but still have that stash of paper bags in your utility room, this is a great way to make them into something fun. Just put one inside the other, mouth to mouth so that the bottom of one bag makes one side of a block and the bottom of the other forms the other side. You can easily change the size of the blocks by cutting down the bags and you can make them a little more stable by crumpling up newspaper or ad sheets and putting them inside first. And, of course, you can always add a little fun by having he kids color the bags first. If you have older kids, you could even have them plan something to build with the blocks and figure out how they need to color them accordingly to come out with the design they want. Then, when all is done, you can recycle the whole thing!
10. Slip-n-slide cleaning
You’ve probably seen those slippers with the cleaning fibers on the bottom so that you can walk and dust your floors at the same time. Well, why not let the kids try them out? You don’t even have to buy anything new. Just take the hardwood-friendly cleaning cloths you would normally use and attach them to the kids slippers with tape or an elastic band around the ankle (you want to avoid safety pins, since they are likely to cause scratches if sliding gets rambunctious). Hardwood mop covers often fit nicely on feet with no extra attachment necessary. Then give them an area to slide around on and let them free. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you could even attach cloths to their bellies or back-sides and let the older kids pull the younger ones around. Depending on how big your cloths are, they may be big enough to serve as a sort of sled for this purpose. Just make sure the kids are in their pajamas – you don’t want the rivet of a blue jean spoiling the floor or the fun.
11. Pick-up-sticks
This is another classic game that seems to be made for hardwood floors. You should be able to find a set at any variety or toy store. The instructions are simple and the game is challenging enough to entertain older kids (and adults) while helping younger ones (older than 5 or 6, though) develop their fine motor skills. Another game, by the way, that can be played inside the fort.
12. Pom-pom obstacle course
Set out a series of goals throughout the house (these can be as simple as a shoe box on a counter or bed). Get different colored pompoms and place one of the same color for each kid in each goal. Each player starts out with a spoon and the starting color. They then have to make their way through the house keeping the pom-poms on the spoon and exchanging them for the new color at each goal. Make up a fun rule for if they drop the pom-pom, like they have to pick it up with their toes or they have to ask someone else to help them. Each kid who makes it back to the finish with the correctly colored pom-pom (the one from the last goal) gets a treat or some other prize.
13. Paper cup tower
Have a bunch of cups left over from your holiday party? Maybe let the kids have a go at them? Or the adults at your party. You can divide the players in to teams (teams of 1 work fine if you’ve got just a couple of kids) and have them stack the cups as high as they can without the towers falling over. You can then re-use the cups for a cotton ball toss once the towers fall.
14. Reading
There is perhaps nothing better than curling up in a cozy place and reading through the winter doldrums. Whether it’s in their fort, on the big living room chair, or a warm place by the fire, the right book can keep kids and adults alike content indoors for hours at a time. Plus, you can involve the whole family by having family reading time, by reading to the kids, or by having the older kids read to the younger ones. You can even take it a step further and have the kids act out what they’ve read for the rest of the family.
15. Card games
Card games are an old go-to for keeping busy while stuck inside. Hardwood floors make and excellent venue for all kinds of card games – as easy to use as the dining room table. Tired of playing “Go Fish” and “Old Maid”? Check out these 40 games kids can play with a deck of cards.
There are tons of fun things to do inside when our Colorado winters get to be too much. Often, the precautions you take to avoid things getting broken (soft, lighter toys in lieu of heavier ones) will also help to protect your floors. Making sure to keep arts and crafts confined to tables and counters can also help to avoid abrasions from things like glitter and damage from paint, water, etc. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to enjoy you family indoors during the winter months and still be able to enjoy beautiful hardwood floors for the rest of the year.
Hardwood comes from a vast variety of species. Some are not appropriate for flooring because of their density, susceptibility to moisture, or other factors. Even among the hardwoods used for flooring, some are better for certain climates than others. Here in Colorado, where the weather is relatively dry, domestic hardwoods tend to be especially popular, though there are a few exotic species that do well, too.
While Bamboo is a grass and not a wood, modern strand-weaving methods produce Bamboo flooring that is, in some cases, harder than hardwood. Bamboo flooring is a popular choice among those concerned with environmental sustainability because it grows quite quickly and is generally not harvested from natural-growing forests.
Red Oak is by far the species used most often for flooring in the United States. It is abundant and inexpensive and can be finished to suit practically any decor, making it one of the most versatile hardwoods available.
White Oak shares many features with its cousin, the Red Oak, but, as its name would suggest, is a bit paler and more brown than red. White Oak is an especially popular choice for those looking for pre-finished hardwood, as the variety of options available is quite impressive.
Though technically different species, Hickory and Pecan are part of the same genus (also referred to as Hickory) and are so similar they are often sold together or interchangeably. The grain of Hickory is its most outstanding feature, as boards often display sharp color variations that create a striking and unique look. Hickory is also uncommonly hard for a domestic wood and makes a great choice for cabins and homes high traffic with a desire for a natural, somewhat rustic look.
Walnut often features a variety of figured grain patterns, which lend it a special beauty; this, combined with its natural luster, which increases over time, make it an especially recommended for natural oil finishes.
Among the most popular of the exotic species sold in the United States, Brazilian Cherry offers a rich tone that only grows richer over time. Significantly harder than most domestic species, it is an excellent choice for homes with families or pets who are looking for something a little special in their flooring choice.
One of the darker hardwoods popular in Colorado, Brazilian Walnut is another dense, hardwood good for high traffic areas. Its darker hue creates a warm but sophisticated look that contrasts beautifully with lighter furniture and fixtures.
Much like Oak, Maple is a very versatile wood that can be stained to match most any decor. It tends to offer a very consistent, understated grain and can withstand a good deal of wear and tear.
Ash is one of the palest woods used for flooring and creates a beautiful, open look that is clean and inviting. Ash also displays an unusual shock resistance.
1 – Backing (bottom layer): Most quality laminates are made with a bottom layer that includes a moisture barrier. It joins with the water-resistant wear layer on top to create a relatively water-tight seal around the core material (though this does not make laminate flooring waterproof). It also provides additional stability for installation.
